title: Automatic feedback to promote safe walking and speech loudness control in persons with multiple disabilities: two single-case studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessing automatic feedback technologies to promote safe travel and speech loudness control in two men with multiple disabilities, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  The men were involved in two single-case studies. In Study I, the technology involved a microprocessor, two photocells, and a verbal feedback device. The man received verbal alerting/feedback when the photocells spotted an obstacle in front of him. In Study II, the technology involved a sound-detecting unit connected to a throat and an airborne microphone, and to a vibration device. Vibration occurred when the man's speech loudness exceeded a preset level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The man included in Study I succeeded in using the automatic feedback in substitution of caregivers' alerting/feedback for safe travel. The man of Study II used the automatic feedback to successfully reduce his speech loudness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Automatic feedback can be highly effective in helping persons with multiple disabilities improve their travel and speech performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari , Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Vanessa A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boccasini
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smaldone
authors.forename: Doretta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001331:Automation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D061214:Patient Safety; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013016:Sound; D013060:Speech; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking
keywords: Automatic feedback; speech loudness; technology; walking